Counting mechanism for spigot knobs



April 18, 1950 BARONE 2,504,376

COUNTING MECHANISM FOR SPIGOT KNOBS Filed Nov. 16, 1948 a7 i as I r 25 v33 F/G./. v

I I W v v u v v y Patented Apr. 18, 1950 STATES OFFICE August L. Barone,'Maricopa County, 'Ariz. Application November 16,'1948, SerialNo.60,304

4 Claims.

This invention pertains todispensing spigot lever counting knob.

Qne of the objects of my invention is to provide :a dispensing spigotknob with .a counting mechanism, .by which the number of glasses or mugsof :beer :drawn through the spigot can be easily registered by thebartender, by either a simple movement'of the thumb or finger.

The second object is to provide a draft beer spi ot lever, with a knobcontaining counting mechanism, which is positioned within easy reach ofeither the thumb :or finger of the operator of the tap, and can registerand indicate the number of --containers drawn through the spigot.

*The third object is to provide a device, as above mentioned, in whichthe counting mechanism is operated by a ratchet and plunger, attached tothe side of the knob and having mechanism whereby the stroke of theplunger may be varied to house the plunger to actuate the countingmechanism throughout a desired portion of the stroke of the plunger.

The donrth obiiect :is to provide a mechanism,

as above described, in which the-counting mechanism is contained withinthe knob and has which can be easily observed from the position of theoperator, which will indicate the number-of times the plunger has beenoperated.

The fifth {object to provide mechanism, as aboire mentioned, :in whichthe counting mechanism is supported by a shaft extending diametmallythrough the 'knob on the to of the spigot lever or arm and has :anextension at the side apposite the actuating plunger, to support a resetknob, whereby the rotors oi the counting mechanism can :be quickly reset independently of the ratchet and plunger mechanism.

Ether objects will appear hereinafter.

1 attain the foregoing objects by means of the mechanism illustrated inthe accompanying drawings, in which? Fignre' jl is aside view of thespigot lever knob includin my improvements;

F gure 2 is a hunt view thereof;

Figure .3 is a side elevation of the counter operating me anism with theiface of the case sec ioned ff substantially on line 3-;3, Figure 2, toshow the in erior and, dra n on a somewhat enlarged scale;

Figure 4 is a plan view of the under Side of he counter p unge a s drawnon an enl rged scale;

Fi ure .5 is a sectional elevation of the plunger substantiall on lin s4, of Fi ure 4;

Figure 6 is a back elevational view of the spigot lever knob, showingthe position of the covered opening therein.

Similar numerals refer tosimilar par-ts in several views.

The dispensing lever knob 2 is geiziera-lly spherical in shape and has aboss 3 at the bottom, tapped to receive a standard mounting studcommonly used on spigot levers. A segmental portion of the outer or backside of this knob is sectioned off at an angle to term a circularopening 6 in the upper quadrant of the knob which is then-closed byplate :5. The-outer face of this plate may display advertising matter asshown in Figure 6, if desired, and its inner face has a rim 4 which hasa push fit in opening 5 so that the plate may be frictionally retainedtherein. On the left sideoi knob body -2 there is a fiat area which isdrilled and threaded to receive boss 8 of plunger case I. The plungercase 7 has a square portion 9 which acts as a housing for ratchet Wheel15 and an elongated portion 12 extending somewhat 'tangentally from part9 which forms a housing for counterplungei' H. Case i may be rotated 0nboss 5 so that the plunger housing portion l2 will extend either towardthe operator, as shown by solid lines Figure l, or away from theoperator as shown by dotted lines lZa or vertically as indicated bylines l2b. Case 1 is retained in any of these positions by-a pin H,which extends through the back portion of case 7 into holes drilled inknob 2 at predetermined positions. In the position shown by solid linesit is intended that the plunger be pushed by the thumb of the user, andin the latter positions shown in dotted lines it may beoperated by theforefinger. Either of these operations are easily carried out as theuser grasps the body of the lever knob 2 in the act of or after drawinga container of beer.

Within body part Q of case J there is a ratchet wheel l6 keyed orotherwise secured, to a shaft l8, which extends diametrically throughknob -2 and which carries a counting mechanism 20. This shaft isjournalled in boss 8, at the left end and directly in knob body 2 at theright end. Counting mechanism 2% which has a number of indicator drumsis standard in form and well known to the art. It is mainly supported onshaft l8, however, stationary portions of this mechanism may be retainedin position by a pin 24 extending through body 2 parallel to shaft 18. Awindow is cut through body 2 in a position as to expose a row of figureson the several drums of the counting mechanism whereby these numbers orfigures will be easily visible to the o erator using the spigot.

In order to cause the counting mechanism to function cleanly andaccurately each time the plunger is depressed, I provide the mechanismshown particularly in Figure 3. A square hole 28 is cut through thetangential extension l2 and adjacent portion of guide case 1. Theplunger is made of square stock to fit this squared hole at the innerend portion. The outer portion of the housing 12 is drilled andcounterbored large enough to receive a spring 29 which surrounds theouter portion of the plunger, which is also turned to have a roundsection. In this way a channel 30 is provided to house the spring, theinner end of which beds at the corners left by the square portion 28'.The outer end of the spring is retained by a collar 32 on the outerrounded portion of the plunger. A threaded stop thimble 33 is thenslipped over the outer portion of the plunger and threaded into theouter end portion of housing l2, which is tapped to receive it. Theinner end of this thimble is counterbored at 34 to receive the spring 29and retaining collar 32. The outer movement of collar 32 is limited bythe bottom of this counterbore, and thus forms a means for retaining thespring under tension. A thumb or finger button 36 is positioned on theouter end of the plunger and has an inner face 31 which contacts theouter face 38 of thimble 33. The position of the outer face of thimble33 then determines the limit to which button 36 may be forced inward andthus limits the inward position of the inner portion of the plunger.

The inner squared portion of plunger Hi is slotted at 4B and the slotextended as a keyway 4| outward to the outer end of the slot. A ratchetpawl 42 is supported by a pin 4.3 in slot it so that its engaging point44 extends inward and above the top surface of the inner portion of theplunger I4, as shown in Figure 5. It is maintained in this position by aspring 45 which is embedded and secured in keyway 4i by collar 32 andthumb button 36. Its inner tip engages the rear portion of ratchet pawl42 at point 48.

The above mentioned parts are proportioned so that the tip 44 of pawl 42engages the teeth 50 of ratchet wheel IB.

To prevent backlash pawl on the ratchet teeth a friction spring 52 isinserted in case I in the opening 53, in which the ratchet wheeloperates. Its ends are supported in notches 54 and its mid-portion '5bears on the ratchet wheel with a slight predetermined friction. Thecavities and openings in which the above parts operate are enclosed by acase cover In which is retained by a push fit therein.

In use, dispensing lever knob 2 is attached to a stud on the top of thedispensing spigot lever, of an ordinary conventional dispensing spigot.The housing I may be positioned as shown in Figure l. The countingmechanism is then adjusted by re-set mechanism knob 56 so that variousdrums of the counting mechanism will show 0-0-0-0 as viewed throughwindow 25. After the valve is opened to draw a glass or other containerof beer it requires only a simple movement of the thumb of the user topush plunger button 36 inward until it is stopped by thimble 33. Thisoperation registers 0-0-0-1 on the counter. This operation is continuedeach time a container of beer is drawn.

It is understood that the spigot lever may due to any drag of the I haveto be operated several times to draw a glass of beer with the propercollar of foam. However, the plunger is only operated as and when aglass is fully and completely drawn. It is the object of this device tocount, not the number of times the tap valve is opened, but to count thenumber of fully drawn glasses or containers of beer. In this way thenumber of glasses or containers of beer that can be drawn from any givenkeg can be accurately checked. After a keg is checked and empty thecounting mechanism may be easily re-set to zero reading by use of theknob 56. The counting mechanism will also indicate, after a few trials,the amount of beer drawn from a keg and from this indication the amountremaining in the keg can be easily calculated.

It is to be observed that when plunger 14 is in the fully retracted orouter position, the tip 44 of pawl 42 is moved to a position out ofengagement with the teeth of ratchet wheel I6, as shown by dottedoutline 44, Figure 3. The complete stroke of the .plunger moves this tipto the position indicated by dotted outline 44", or as desired to movethe Wheel one or two teeth per stroke. However, when in the outerposition, the teeth 50 of wheel iii are always disengaged and the wheeland its shaft is ready for re-set operation.

While in the above description I have referred to the device as beingparticularly useful for counting glasses of beer drawn from kegs, it isto be understood that the device is also useful for counting the numberof glasses of Coca-Cola or root beer drawn from syrup mixing andcarbonating mechanisms. It is also intended that it may be used whereverliquids are drawn or dispensed from containers into glass or otherreceptacles.

I claim: a

1. A counting knob for attachment to spigot valve levers comprising ahollow knob body, an access hole therein, a transverse diametricallypositioned shaft extending therethrough supporting a counting mechanismhaving a series of drums, and having a ratchet wheel at one end and areset knob at the other end, a viewing window formed in said knob bodypositioned to expose a row of numbers on said counting mechanism drums,a case having a square body portion with a centrally positioned bossadapted to include and journal said shaft and thread into said knob bodyto gain support therein, and a tangental portion enclosing a plungermechanism, said case being rotatable relative to said knob body, wherebysaid tangental case portion can be ex tended in various desireddirections around said shaft, a plunger operative in said tangentalcaseportion having a pawl within its inner portion adapted to engage saidratchet wheel, a spring surrounding its outer portion and operativebetween said case and said plunger to force said plunger outward, athimble threaded into the outer portion of said tangental case portionsurrounding said plunger and having an outer face adapted to form anouter stop, a button on the outer end of said plunger adapted to beoperated by the thumb or finger of a person grasping said knob body, andto engage against said thimble stop to limit its inward travel.

2. A knob for spigot valve levers, including in combination, a hollowknob body, an access hole formed by removal of a segment in theupperquadrant of the back side thereof, a viewing window formed in the frontside thereof, a fiat area iaving a centrally positioned tapped holeformed on a side lateral to said viewing window, a shaft extendingdiametrically therethrough from said flat area, and journalled in saidbody, a ratchet wheel attached to the end of said shaft adjacent saidfiat area, and a reset knob attached to the protruding opposite end, adrum type counting mechanism supported on said shaft within said knobbody so that rows of figures on said counter drums are visible throughsaid window, and means for actuating said counting mechanism including acase having a square portion adapted to house said ratchet wheel, athreaded boss on its inner face, and a tangentally outwardly extendingplunger housing, a plunger operative longitudinally in said plungerhousing, having a pawl adapted to operatively engage said ratchet wheel,a thimble threaded into the outer end of said plunger housing adapted tolimit the outward and inward movement of said plunger, a

spring surrounding said plunger within said plunger housing normallyurging said plunger outward, and a thumb or finger bottom on the outerend of said plunger; said ratchet wheel boss being adapted to screw intothe threaded hole in said knob body and to journal the end of said shaftadjacent said ratchet wheel whereby said case may be supported on saidknob body with said plunger housing extending in various rotativepositions relative to said knob body, and a pin inserted through saidratchet wheel hous ing and said knob body to secure said housing indesired rotative positions.

3. A counting knob for dispensing spigot knobs comprising a hollow knobbody, a drum counting mechanism therein, a viewing window formed in saidknob body, and mechanism for manually actuating said counting mechanismincluding a ratchet wheel and pawl operatively associated with saidcounting mechanism said pawl being mounted on a manually operableplunger disposed in a housing tangentally extending from a caseenclosing said ratchet wheel, said case having a boss extending radiallyinto said knob body whereby it is revolvably attached to a side of saidknob.

4. In a counting knob for dispensing spigot knobs having a knob body,counting mechanism disposed on a transverse shaft one end of whichextends outwardly therein from said knob body, and a ratchet wheel onthe outwardly extending end of said shaft, the combination therewith ofa case enclosing said ratchet wheel and having a boss extending from oneside thereof adapted to receive said transverse shaft and extend intosaid knob to afford rotatable support on said knob body, and a plungerhousing extending outward from said case in a direction substantiallytangent to said ratchet wheel, a plunger having a button at its outerend slidably operative in said housing, a pawl on said plunger adaptedto engage the teeth of said ratchet wheel, a spring in said housingurging said plunger outward, and a thimble in the outer end of saidhousing adapted to limit the inward and outward movement of saidplunger.

AUGUST L. BARONE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 578,906 Wood Mar. 16, 1897835,218 Edsall Nov. 6, 1906 1,496,544 Johnson June 3, 1924 1,657,828Henderson Jan. 31, 1928

